Louise McDonnell

Louise Susan McDonnell was born in Chester, Montana on April 17, 1935 to John and Catherine Wanken. She had two younger siblings, Frank and Helen.

After graduating from Chester HS she went on to college in Bozeman where she graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing. It was there that she met Robert F. McDonnell. They were married on October 1, 1958 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chester. Louise took community health nursing classes at University of Tennessee at Knoxville where they lived a short while. The rest of their lives were in Helena where she held nursing jobs for St. Peters, the State of Montana and the VA where she was in charge of infection control.

Bob and Louise loved to travel and took many trips over the years throughout the US and overseas. Some of these trips were for square dancing festivals which they loved. They also experienced several cruises. Some of their best times together were just camping in Montana.

Bob and Louise were enthusiastic supporters of Montana State University. They spent a lot of time on the road to Bozeman for basketball and football games, even when the weather wasn’t great. Louise was still attending football games up until this past year when her health began to decline.

Louise was active in Soroptomists where she helped with many community outreaches. She helped sell tickets for community concerts and enjoyed many musical and theatrical events over the years. Louise was an avid quilter and had loads of fun in the quilting club she was a part of. She made some beautiful quilts over the years and others she never got completed which we hope will be finished someday. She enjoyed playing games, word puzzles and reading. In her later years, she was often found working a puzzle at the puzzle table.

Bob and Louise never had children but enjoyed spending time with their nieces and nephews and later, great nieces and nephews. They enjoyed going to family events. Their canine family included Raisen, a poodle, and Pierre and Andre who were bischons. They dearly loved each of their dogs.

Louise had a brilliant mind and enjoyed sharing even the smallest details of her life with others. She enjoyed entertaining others in her home where she and Bob prepared many great meals together. She lived life to the fullest and her laugh will be missed. She died at the age of 91 on July 18, 2026 at the Cooney Rehab Facility after living several years at Touchmark Senior Living.

Louise is survived by her brother Frank (Marion) in Chester, her sister Helen Wanken Welch of Omaha, her nephews Troy (LouEllen), Jason (Steffani) and Todd (Denise) niece, Rae Lynn (Jan) Bloemendaal and several great and great great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob who died in 2011, her father and mother-in-law, John and Astrid McDonnell and brothers-in-law John McDonnell and Ashton Welch and a great nephew, Bret Wanken.

A family memorial will be held graveside at the Chester cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Bobcat Athletics, the Lewis and Clark Humane Society or to a charity of your choice.